I still have the hunger, insists Calzaghe

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Calzaghe heads into his defence against American Peter Manfredo at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium next Saturday adamant he is just as excited and focused as he was prior to snatching the crown from Chris Eubank in 1997.

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Focused: Welsh super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe

"It might be my 20th defence, but I am still excited about it," he said.

"I know what it is like to be the challenger and to want to win. So I have to match that with the same intent and desire as if I was the challenger."

The 35-year-old Calzaghe is well known for refusing to take any opponent lightly, even the likes of 'Contender' star Manfredo, who on the face of it ought not to belong in the Welshman's league.

But Calzaghe has witnessed plenty of upsets during his career as champion and will not be deflected from a two-year end-game which he intends to finish in possession of his unbeaten record and crown.

Calzaghe added: "There is pressure on every single defence of my title and I think pressure is a good thing. Look at Tyson losing to Douglas, Hagler losing to Leonard, and Lewis losing to Rahman.

"The favourites in those fights took it for granted that they were the best. One of my strengths is that I don't take any fighter lightly. I take them all very seriously indeed. Peter has a massive opportunity - the opportunity of a lifetime."

Provided he overcomes Manfredo, Calzaghe will find himself with plenty of future options.

Unbeaten rival Mikkel Kessler has attracted rave reviews in the United States and a unification match-up would be a natural.

And with the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor also conceivably waiting in the wings, Calzaghe has no intention of hanging up his gloves yet.

He said: "People say 'How long will I keep fighting for?' At the moment I am still as sharp and as quick.

"The day I am not a winner, the day I realise that I am not the best any more, then I walk away.

"At the moment, in an ideal world, I am looking at 16 months to two years."